A 50-year-old woman was fatally struck by a train after she stepped onto tracks near downtown Corona, authorities said Thursday.
Silvia Gaitan of Hemet died just after 3 p.m. Wednesday when she was hit by a freight train on Burlington Santa Fe Railroad tracks in the 900 block of Railroad Street, near North Buena Vista Avenue, according to the Corona Police Department.
Sgt. Brandon Palaoro told City News Service witnesses spotted Gaitan walking along the tracks, and when the freighter approached, she “appeared to intentionally remain on the tracks,” even as the train engineer “sounded the horn.”
Palaoro said the victim was hit at an unknown speed before the train came to a stop.
The witnesses and train personnel, none of whom suffered injuries, immediately called 911.
Corona Fire Department paramedics pronounced Gaitan dead at the scene.
The tracks were closed for part of the afternoon while a preliminary investigation was conducted.
Anyone with information about the victim or the death was asked to contact the police department at 951-736-2330.